LibriVox recording of Mary Cary, Frequently Martha, by Kate Langley Bosher. Read by Jan MacGillivray.

"My name is Mary Cary. I live in the Yorkburg Female Orphan Asylum. You may think nothing happens in an Orphan Asylum. It does. The orphans are sure enough children, and real much like the kind that have Mothers and Fathers; and that’s why I am going to write this story." So begins Mary’s diary, which she fills with her various doings and misadventures at the Asylum in Virginia and her sharp observations about life and human nature. She loathes Miss Bray, the head of the Asylum, who is not above telling bald-faced lies to the Board to further her own selfish ends. She loves Miss Katherine, the Asylum’s resident nurse, who has befriended Mary and serves as a gentle role model for the child. As for Martha, she is Mary’s "other self" who speaks out—and sometimes acts out—in spite of Mary’s better nature. When she unexpectedly discovers her family background, Mary writes a letter to her uncle that leads to some surprising results on the way to a happy ending.

The Chicago Record-Herald of March 12, 1910 stated, "Let’s be glad for books like Mary Cary. It isn’t so much what Mary Cary does, however, as what she is, bless her! that warms the cockles of the chilliest, most snugly corseted heart." (Summary by Jan MacGillivray)

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M4B audiobook of Complete Book


This audio is part of the collection: The LibriVox Free Audiobook Collection
It also belongs to collections: Audio Books & Poetry; Community Audio

Artist/Composer: Kate Langley Bosher
Date: 2009-09-24
Source: Librivox recording of a public-domain text
Keywords: librivox; audiobook; youth fiction; children's fiction; fiction; orphans

Creative Commons license: Public Domain

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Reviewer: retafmil - - October 13, 2011
Subject: An Absolute Joy . . .
This was my first audiobook, and it just blew me away! Brilliantly written, it takes you inside the mind of a wonderfully naughty girl. Her perceptions are both childlike and insightful.

A love story rounds out this fine offering, so it's a complete experience. And it's impossible to stop listening once you start, so be prepared . . .

And, of course, the reading by jan MacGillivray is equally brilliant! Thank you so much for putting heart and soul into your rendition, Jan!

Reviewer: Runcible - - December 21, 2009
Subject: Great
I agree completely. This is a wonderful story and the reader, Jan is excellent, as good as the finest professional reader. If you like Anne of Green Gables, this audiobook is for you.

Reviewer: benefitsingers - - December 21, 2009
Subject: Wonderful story and narration
This was a really sweet little story and I greatly enjoyed it. The narrator was top notch, fantastic. It was like a professional narration. I cannot say enough good things about this narrator. Keep up the good work. I highly recommend this story.